Teamsters vote to authorize strike; talks with carriers set to resume

The
members of the Teamsters Union have voted to authorize a strike against
companies represented by the Motor Freight Carriers Association, the union
announced Feb. 3.

In
a statement, union representatives said 95 percent of the members who voted
favored authorizing a strike. The vote was called after negotiations with
the carriers' group broke down in late January.

The
MFCA, a national trade association, represents unionized general freight
carriers such as ABF Freight System, Roadway Express, Yellow Freight and
USF Holland. The Teamsters and the MFCA said the break in talks - which
the MFCA described as a "temporary recess" - was caused by differences
over wages and benefits.

However,
just as the strike vote was wrapping up, the two groups said they would
resume negotiating Feb. 5 in Chicago, the union said.

"The
strike vote has already had an impact by leading to a quick return to talks
later this week," Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said.

"Both
sides have had an opportunity to fully review and evaluate their respective
wage and benefit proposals," Tim Lynch, President and CEO of the MFCA,
said in a statement. "We look forward to returning to the bargaining table
and resolving these final remaining issues."

The
agreement between the groups, which expires March 31, covers 65,000 members
of the Teamsters Union.